Exploring Repro‐Timing Harm and Benefit
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21504373 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Davide Battisti (0000-0001-6175-9625, Interdepartmental Center for Research Ethics and Integrity National Research Council of Italy (CNR) Rome Italy, corresponding author), Gary David O’Brien (0000-0002-8528-5724, Department of Philosophy and Hong Kong Catastrophic Risk Centre Lingnan University Hong Kong Hong Kong) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 201-210 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Bioethics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0269-9702 • E-ISSN: 1467-8519 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/bioe.70040 |
| PMID | 41144794 |
| OpenAlex | W4415618747 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
It is plausible that time of birth affects one's prospects for wellbeing. Being born during a war or recession might have a negative impact on early life and lifetime wellbeing. In natural reproduction, delaying conception does not result in the same child being born later, but rather a different child altogether; therefore, prospective parents cannot harm/benefit their children by choosing their time of birth. However, we argue that for prospective parents undergoing the IVF process, things are different. Since it is possible to freeze and store embryos indefinitely before implantation, parents can choose their child's time of birth. Because certain birth timings may better support wellbeing, this introduces the possibility of repro‐timing harms and benefits . This paper explores this new concept by outlining its theoretical assumptions and examining the moral reasons prospective parents in IVF might have for delaying implantation in the short, medium, and long term
Do no harm · Harm · Prospective cohort study · Recession · Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Reproductive System and Pregnancy
The Non-Identity Problem and the Ethics of Future People
Lifespan depends on month of birth
Childhood Experience and the Expression of Genetic Potential
The Moral Obligation to Create Children With the Best Chance of the Best Life
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Attitudes, intentions and procreative responsibility in current and future assisted reproduction
Affecting future individuals
Parental Partiality and Future Children
Harm, Failing to Benefit, and the Counterfactual Comparative Account
School Starting Age and Cognitive Development
Gene Editing, Identity and Benefit
Birth month and adult lifespan
| Highly cited | No |
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